Thursday, April 15, 2010

HAVING beaten their rivals in the exhibition match at Crystal Palace a fortnight ago, Great Dane threw down the gauntlet to rivals Ruislip Eagles with a comfortable 16-27 victory over Olympia in their latest Women’s League match on Sunday.

The victory came after a strong first half performance where they built a 10-goal lead with the returning Anne Kandler and Iris Manu causing problems for Olympia.

Olympia rallied in the second half and went goal for goal with Great Dane, but the game was over as a contest after the first half performance of Danes who are peaking nicely ahead of the key matches against Ruislip still to come.

An under-strength Ruislip took to the court next against Thames and had to put left winger Kiki Dreksler in goal, but she provided an inspired performance that set up Ruislip for a result that matched that of Danes almost exactly.

Dreksler was very much the first line of attack, setting up a constant stream of fast break passes that Dani Sposi duly converted.

Thames had no answer to the fast break game plan of Ruislip and trailed 7 – 16 by half time. As with the first match, the second half was a closer affair but it was also scrappy with a string of two minute suspensions.

Dreksler continued to frustrate Thames whilst Sposi rattled in 12 goals for the defending champions, to run out 27 – 15 victors.

The remaining matches of Ruislip versus Great Dane are sure to be hotly contested with Danes likely to have to win both games to take the title, following their slip up against Olympia earlier in the season, when they were without several key players.